What to do with the kids this weekend in Greater Moncton (Oct 3-5, 2025)
Welcome to October everyone! Mama Pickle is away in Saint John this weekend, so it’s a short & snappy round up – but there’s still lots going on!
(In case you want to come say hi, I’m at my other business, Grapevine Events, hosting our fall/winter kids consignment pop-up at Exhibition Park. Free entry Friday night from 5-8pm & again on Saturday, 10am-1pm – when most items are 50% off!)
THURSAY SHOUT OUT
MAGMA is hosting its fall Community Compass event October 2, 5-7pm, at Edith Cavell School. This is an awesome chance to visit with local organizations & learn about programming in the community. They have bouncy castles to entertain the kids – and some trick-or-treating, too!
Swimmer in the family? CNBO is hosting assessments today at CEPS; this is open to anyone with a Level 4 ability (can swim 25m in the deep end). This is part of their pre-competitive program, which meets twice a week to help swimmers improve strokes.
The Neptune Drive-In is celebrating the launch of Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl with a party Friday, Saturday, & Sunday! Gates open at 5pm, there’ll be a photo booth, costumes encouraged, and the screening of the music video & more at 7:30pm.
There’s also a fun tumbling Taylor par-TAY happening at 506 Elite. Crafts, movement, & more; ages 5+.
Riverview Middle School is planning an outdoor showing of ET tonight! Entry is $3/students, $5 for adults. Should be a great fundraiser!
This weekend is Legs for Literacy Race weekend in Moncton; be sure to plan accordingly for traffic delays on Sunday. There’s a 1K family/kids’ race on Saturday morning; you register in advance online, fee is less than $25.
Today is also the Crossroads for Women Ride for Refuge at Centennial Park.
Kept on Main is hosting a fantastic fall market in Oak Lane on October 4 (10am-3pm) PLUS it’s Harvest Fest at Marche Moncton Market (8am-2pm). All kinds of great local vendors to support & celebrate!
Today is the annual breastfeeding challenge, an international ‘competition’ to see how many babies can be ‘latched in’ at 11am. Families are gathering at Champlain Place this year.
October 5-11 is national Fire Prevention Week, with many local departments planning events – including an Open House at the Hildegard Station in Moncton and an Open House in Riverview (with a pancake breakfast!) on Saturday, October 4. There’ll be a chance to visit the trucks, see the Jaws of Life in action, enjoy BBQ, & more.
Sunshine Rollers are back at the Moncton Coliseum today, turning it into a roller disco! Family times begin at 4pm.
The Saint John Sea Dogs will face off against the Wildcats at the Avenir Centre tonight. Puck drops at 7pm.
Legs for Literacy is today! Be sure to plan accordingly for traffic delays.
Sign up to try out Ringette at Riverview’s Byron Dobson Area this morning. This is a hugely popular sport with lots of great opportunities & local teams! This is for ages four to 12; the session takes place at 10:15am.
Today is Visitor Appreciation Day at the Magnetic Hill Zoo – which means all entry tickets are just $11! (Children two & under are always free.) Gates open at 10am; it’s suggested you purchase in advance online. (And a reminder that Boo at the Zoo begins October 18!)
The Maritime Reptile & Pet Expo returns to the Moncton Coliseum today.
The Moncton Wildcats are hosting the Halifax Moosehead today for an afternoon game – always a great time to take the kids!
We’ve updated our annual list of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, & more for your autumn adventure planning – but here are some quick tidbits for you!
Belliveau Orchard La Fleur du Pommier Le Verger Goguen Appleview Orchards & Irishview Orchard are all open for the season.
The Green Pig Country Market’s corn maze has a pirate theme this year, Trueman Blueberry Farm has a Sesame Street theme corn maze, and Boyle Family Farm is open Thursdays to Sundays, 10am-6pm, until Halloween with their maze.
And if you’re up for a drive, check out the amazing creations at Coburn Farms’ Pumpkin Yard in Keswick Ridge. So fun!!
For more details about each of these places & more, check out our Fall Guide!
These attractions & fun ideas are always worth checking out! Look for the 
for our TEEN & TWEEN picks! Some of these are still great with littles, too, but we know it can be tricky to come up with ideas the older kids will enjoy – or can be sent to on their own.
REMEMBER: We’re not always able to update if there are changes due to weather, etc. Please click through the links & call ahead to confirm details for yourself when making plans!
OUTDOOR FUN
The Magnetic Hill Zoo is open daily.
Llamazing Adventures is a great way to get out & get moving! Take the llamas for a walk!
Faith First Mini Horses offers pony walks & cuddles; check their site and reach out for availability.
Poley Mountain is open in the fall for hiking, biking, & more.
Drive In Movies are perfect fall outings, especially with teens! Check out what’s playing at 
Shediac’s Neptune Drive In & the Sussex Drive In.
East Coast Karting is open (weather permitting). Check their Facebook for updates & details!- DYK
There’s a borrowing program at YMCA North with skateboards, helmets, and protective gear for use on their great outdoor ramps when weather permits. 
There’s a roughly one hour iTour of downtown Moncton’s historical & cultural locations you can use to help you explore – a great way to add a little movement, a little history, and a little fun to your family outings! Be sure to check out all the amazing public art installations around the downtown core, too!
INDOOR FUN
The indoor splash pad at the YMCA North End is an amazing option for kiddos – with public openings every day of the week! Check the schedule as times vary day-to-day; cost to attend for non-member is $6.- For indoor swimming, there are public options at the YMCA Greater Moncton (love their small, warmer pool for little ones), the Pat Crossman Aquatic Centrein Riverview, and the Dieppe Aquatic Centre (with the awesome sloped entry & pirate ship splash zone!).
Hop! Skip! Jump! is perfect for little ones, as well as the cool climbing wall & laser room for older kids.
Burn off energy at SkyZone Moncton; half-price entry on Tuesday nights, and Glow Zone on Fridays & Saturdays.
Resurgo Place is a spot we love to visit again & again; history, hands-on science & arts, & special programming, too! (Closed on Mondays, including long weekends.)
MR21 is ‘low key Moncton’s best kept secret’ as my kids say. An incredible visual presentation that tells the history of the Acadian community in a beautiful cathedral in downtown.
Local libraries are always a great spot to visit, with lots of programming for all ages – and also another rainy day must visit option.- Check out what’s playing at Cineplex in Dieppe or Trinity!
The Bunker on Main Street in Moncton is a great indoor golf option & does have times kids are allowed. They also now have a race car simulator! There are more than 50 cars you can choose from & more than 30 tracks to try – it’s not a little kid game.
Riverview Indoor Skatepark & Riverview Youth Centre are a great space to learn to skate or practice your skills!
Bowling is always a fun idea! Go retro vibes with Marvelous Holy Bowly in Riverview, check out glow bowling times at Fairlanes in Moncton, or head to Bowlarama & its awesome arcade in Dieppe. (We recommend calling ahead to book in advance so you’re not disappointed.)
Book a booth at GG Bistro for some gaming fun & great eats!
Creative mood? Try DIY Studio to paint your own pottery!
Want to move as a family but need to be indoors? Try a visit to FitRocks Climbing Gym!
Book laser tag at the Sportsdome or Marco’s!
Up for a challenge? Room Escape Atlantic usually has a few non-scary, kid-friendly options & Mystery Moncton Mystere is great for the teens & up. There are also online options you can purchase to play on your own time.
Need to unleash some anger? Book a session at the Wreck Room!
Teens & youth (ages 12-25) can book a two-hour spot at Riverview’s Sound Lab for just $2/person. The lab has professional recording software, an electric guitar, bass guitar, electric drum kit, keyboard, microphones, & two amps.
Gamer in the family? The Comic Hunter hosts Friday Night Magic Modern sessions, Sunday Lorcana Locals, Monday Star Wars Unlimited Weekly Play & lots of other gaming events.
Board Miniatures also hosts regular table top sessions for various games & free board game days, too!
BGC Dieppe is always a great place for families to connect, with lots of programming open to everyone.
Bass Pro’s 12,000-gallon freshwater aquariumwith striped bass, Atlantic sturgeon, trout, perch, and more is always fun to visit, especially when you need an indoor option.
Our friends at 506 Elite Allstars have a great space for kiddos looking to bounce around and burn off energy while learning tumbling and cheer moves. Check out their new member trial package & their upcoming events.
Markets & More
- The Moncton Market & the Dieppe Market are both open on Saturday mornings, with fantastic options for local goodies.
- Many smaller communities also have markets & great hidden eating gems, like Salisbury’s Farmer’s Market and the Green Pig Country Market, as well as the Old Church Farmer’s Marketin Hillsborough.
- A cool spot to shop & enjoy a riverside stroll is the Starving Artist Cafe in Moncton.
- Magnetic Hill Wharf Village is still open for the season.
FUN EATS
A few fun cafes for you to consider …
- Indulge all your fall fantasies with a visit to The Raven in Lakeville, featuring PSL, caramel apples, live music & more outdoors.
- Tambayan Cafe is a fun 2D cafe in Riverview with yummy treats, coffee, fries, & more.
- Add a photo booth shoot to your sweets order at Click & Chew in Dieppe; super fun idea for a special celebration or any day.
- We’re always down to pretend we’ve hopped a plane to France with a trip to Tony’s for pastries. They have three great spots to explore – the original bistro on McLaughlin, Dieppe, and now in Downtown Moncton!
- Crumbl FOMO? Head to our own The Cookie Jar in Dieppe! It’s super cute & yummy – and right next to the awesome Bennic Dairy Bar for ice cream creations!
- Halo Donuts & lostandfound ice cream are next door neighbours on St. George Street, another great combo. (You can also find Halo in the North End, open Wed-Sun.)
- And if bread & pastries are what you want, Co Pain Artisan Bread Company is where you need to go!
- In search of a special? Check out The Daily Feast for great overview of local restaurants, their deals, & more.
Alma Fleet Launch 2025 events will start on Friday October 10.
The City of Moncton’s sixth annual Heritage Week is October 14-18, with lots of interesting events if you like history and cool buildings. There’s a downloadable Heritage Scavenger Hunt, too! (Speaking of the City, are you familiar with their neighbourhood rink program? Get together & create a skating rink at your local playground this winter; applications now open.)
The Nor’easter: Robot Combat Club has a tournament coming up in Riverview October 11 & are accepting new competitors.
Season 8 of the Pickle Planet Podcast, co-hosted by Jenna Morton & Tosh Taylor, is now underway! We dish up a new episode every Monday; subscribe on your favourite podcast app to make sure you never miss us – and watch for us Rogers TV in New Brunswick, too!
